Fridge Twinning

Food poverty has been a growing issue worldwide for many years with the crisis only being exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that, as a result of the economic impact of COVID alone, 40 million people worldwide are now facing acute hunger.

Many labourers, and those working in the informal economy (more than 60% of the world’s working population), lost their jobs overnight as lockdowns spread globally. In these poorer nations there are no safety nets, or food banks, or furlough schemes. Instead families were left to fend for themselves with nothing.

For many of us, food has been an important part of our own journeys through the pandemic (I think a good percentage of UK households consumed at least one banana bread over the last 20 months)!

Plus, being a former professional chef myself, whose life and livelihood at one point depended completely on food, I remind myself each day to be grateful for the ability to open my refrigerator and find it full of food.

So at a time of year where food plays such an integral role and when the thought of not being able to provide for loved ones is terrifying, Hannah and I found ourselves wanting to do more. 

In September of this year, we chatted to Seren Boyd from the Toilet Twinning organization, who was able to tell us more, not just about Fridge Twinning but all of their campaigns.

Seren explained that Fridge Twinning is an emergency appeal which launched in May 2021 to raise urgent funds to help those most vulnerable following the impact of COVID-19. In just two weeks, Fridge Twinning had already raised £100,000 to fund three separate food related programmes.

1. Food deliveries. As it says on the tin, this project works to provide parcels of food to individuals and families in order to give immediate relief.
2. Cash Vouchers. A well-established format, cash vouchers allow individuals the ability to purchase the food of their choice, rather than providing a set parcel of food.
3. Support & Training. These programs work to promote self-sufficiency. Whether that be through distributing seeds and tools and teaching individuals how to farm in climate change resistant ways, establishing fishing projects, or helping to set up small businesses to sell food, this is all about sustainability, dignity and empowerment.

So specifically which countries do the funds go to?

The appeal is supporting projects in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, South Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. That being said, funds at any given time are directed to wherever the need is greatest. When we spoke to Seren back in September, a key focus was Afghanistan.

Plus, Seren explained that while Fridge Twinning was launched as an emergency appeal, as the full repercussions of COVID-19 are becoming clearer, and it is evident that it is taking time for the vaccine to reach some of these nations, it is likely that Fridge Twinning will continue to run for some time to support those experiencing acute hunger.

Lebanon: Dalila

‘I can’t afford to look after my young children’

Dalila and her family have been living in Lebanon since they fled Syria in 2013. Her husband has not been able to find work during the pandemic so they have run up debts of over £3,000 paying rent on their one-bedroom flat. Every day, they fear being evicted.

‘Our two youngest children still wear nappies and drink milk. But we can’t afford these things.’

Thanks to Fridge Twinning, Dalila was able to have access to food vouchers so she can feed the family and decide how best to use the money.

Ethiopia: Zewditu

‘I had to sell my belongings to feed my children’

Zewditu is a widow and mother-of-four living in Ethiopia. She used to run a food stall serving local labourers but, when their work stopped due to Covid, Zewditu lost all her customers.

‘I had to close my business and sold my equipment to keep feeding my children. I wondered how I’d ever get started again.’

With a cash grant of £30, Zewditu was able to buy new furniture and equipment and reopen her business. This newfound security has restored her hope. ‘The money I received may look small but I know that it brought me out of depression. I’m now confident that I can expand and open a small restaurant.’

Bangladesh: Kanchan

After months of lockdown, the cupboards in Kanchan’s home became completely empty. This desperate family became terrified of starving to death.

Due to Covid-19, the 36-year-old mum lost all her daily wages when she no longer had any work as a housemaid or a labourer in road construction projects.

But, with a cash grant, Kanchan can now feed her family.

‘We have bought some chickens and ducks and rented a piece of land from a neighbour to grow vegetables,’ she says. ‘The cash support was like water in the desert to us.’

Other Campaigns

Want to get involved with Fridge Twinning’s sister campaigns? Click below to find out more!